Army to Prepare EIS For Schofield Generating Station Project

The 50 MW power generation plant at the Schofield Barracks would be leased to the Hawaiian Electric Company and would burn a mixture of biofuel and diesel.

Jan 17, 2014

The Department of the Army notifies has published a notice saying it intends to prepare a Joint Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed lease of Army land at Schofield Barracks to the Hawaiian Electric Company to build and operate a 50-megawatt, biofuel-capable power generation plant. The EIS is designed to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act.

The Army and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources will use the EIS analysis to determine the potential effects of going ahead with the project, which involves leasing 10.3 acres of land and a related 2.5-acre interconnection easement on Schofield Barracks. Hawaiian Electric would own, operate, and maintain the plant and a 46-kilovolt subtransmission line.

The plant would be a source of renewable power that would provide an energy security service to Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield, and Field Station Kunia if they lose service from their normal sources of electricity, and by burning biofuels, it would help achieve the Army's goals of producing renewable energy on Army-owned real property, according to the Army's Federal Register notice.

It also says the plant would benefit Hawaiian Electric and the residents of Oahu: "It would provide a quick-starting facility to help maintain grid stability; provide a facility at a higher elevation and away from coastlines; provide a physically secure facility on a military installation; and makes progress toward the Hawaii Renewable Portfolio Standard."

Written comments will be accepted for the next 45 days, and scoping meetings will be held on Oahu during the first week of February.